Ferretfox

   “The truth is, Shadow, all water in life is recycled...every single precious drop,” the professor explained. “You remember what I taught you about the water cycle, don’t you? Recite for me what you can recall."   That was typical of Professor Gerald. If you had a question about something you were studying, he’d often ask for an oral pop quiz on the spot, to see if you had been paying attention and truly understood the material. Luckily Shadow was well prepared, as he and Maria held study sessions together almost daily. “Let’s see...rain falls to the Earth, washes into rivers and streams a

  “I am so glad we don’t have to live like that.”   It was just after history class, where Shadow and Maria had been learning about early space technology, most notably how the first space stations had existed in zero gravity. People and objects always floating, never stationary.  “Yeah, me too,” Shadow said in response to Maria’s previous statement. “I enjoy having gravity. Free floating would be fun for a while, but it’s no way to live.”   “I can’t believe that people used to strap themselves down to eat and sleep and even use the toilet!” Maria exclaimed. “